Lived up to expectations to reach Conference USA title game

SMU, UCF

Mustangs and Knights will play in Conference USA championship game at Bright House Networks Stadium Dec. 4

November 27, 2010

They hit some bumps in the road, but Conference USA's preseason favorites delivered when it counted.

Most national analysts projected SMU would win the league's Western Division title and UCF would win the league's Eastern Division title.

The Knights (8-3 overall, 6-1 in Conference USA) host the Mustangs (7-5 overall, 6-2 in C-USA) Dec. 4 in the Conference USA championship game. Kickoff is set for noon at Bright House Networks Stadium, with the game broadcast on either ESPN or ESPN2.

The Mustangs beat Tulsa 21-18 at home Oct. 9 and East Carolina 45-38 in overtime Saturday to pull away from the Western Division pack.

SMU had its share of setbacks, including losses Houston and UTEP.

"We set a goal for ourselves, 10, 11 months ago, to be conference champions, and it didn't look like we were going to have a chance to do it. But the kids kept believing," SMU coach June Jones told the Dallas Morning News following the team's overtime win at East Carolina to clinch the division title.

SMU has surprised a lot of teams this season by rolling out a more diverse attack than the pass-heavy offense Jones made famous at Hawaii. Mustangs sophomore quarterback Kyle Padron is capable of slinging the ball, but SMU has a strong run offense and the strongest defensive in Conference USA's Western Division.

SMU running back Zach Line entered this week leading Conference USA with 106.7 rushing yards per game. UCF's Ronnie Weaver was third on the list with 77.5 yards per game while splitting carries with other backs and Knights freshman quarterback Jeff Godfrey.

Padron entered this week ranked second in the conference with 270.5 yards per game.

UCF was more consistent in Conference USA play, but the Knights did have their share of heartbreak and setbacks this season.

It took Godfrey a few games to earn the starting quarterback job, passing junior Rob Calabrese on the depth chart.

The Knights lost 28-21 to N.C. State and 17-13 at Kansas State, missing out on two potential signature wins against teams from automatic qualifying Bowl Championship Series teams.

UCF then rattled off five consecutive Conference USA wins and earned the first Top 25 ranking in school history.

The Knights were ranked for just one week, suffering a major letdown against an athletic Southern Miss lineup. UCF lost to the Golden Eagles 31-21 on Nov. 13.

UCF hasn't dominated teams in a particular phase of the game, instead relying on its solid offense, defense and special teams to complement each other.

UCF senior defensive end Bruce Miller leads the Knights' defensive attack. Miller, the reigning Conference USA defensive player of the year, owns the school record for most career sacks in school history with 32.